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Please Click HerePosted on November 30, 2020 by Ruder Ware Alumni
As Autumn began to descend upon us, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) demonstrated that it will indeed use the General Duty Clause (GDC) to cite employers for health and safety conditions related to COVID-19. This is a good time to revisit employers’ obligations under the GDC and how a lack of compliance can […]
Posted on November 19, 2020 by Amy E. Ebeling and Mary Ellen Schill
Through the release of a Revenue Ruling and a Revenue Procedure, the IRS re-affirmed its stance that taxpayers may not deduct payments for otherwise deductible business expenses (i.e., payroll, rent, covered utility payments, etc.) if those payments are made using Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds and the company “reasonably expects” to have their PPP loan […]
Posted on November 11, 2020 by Sara J. Ackermann
Last night, after his primetime address, Governor Evers issued Executive Order #94 which advises residents to stay home and take precautions if they have to leave their home. It also encourages businesses to take additional steps to protect workers, customers, and the surrounding community. While the document is entitled as an “Order” there is no […]
Posted on November 10, 2020 by Ruder Ware Alumni
OSHA’s enforcement activity has been accelerating as the number of COVID-19 cases has increased. Now OSHA has issued a guidance designed to give employers an understanding of the most commonly cited violations arising from OSHA COVID-19-related inspections. They are: Not providing a medical evaluation before a worker is fit-tested for or uses a respirator. Not […]
Posted on November 9, 2020 by Ruder Ware Alumni
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a respiratory protection guidance for nursing homes, assisted living, and other long-term care facilities (LTCF) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This guidance recommends that everyone use “source control measures” at all times while in an LTCF, even if the wearer does not have symptoms of the virus. […]
Posted on October 26, 2020 by Mary Ellen Schill
On October 26, 2020 the Internal Revenue Service announced the cost-of-living adjustments for the various qualified retirement plan limits. Some of the limits shown below have increased from last year while others remained unchanged. Qualified Plan Limit Cost-of-Living Adjustments 401(k) and 403(b) elective deferral limit 2020 – $19,500 2021 – $19,500 $200,000 compensation limit […]
Posted on October 22, 2020 by Sara J. Ackermann and Nicole L. Stangl
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) have updated the definition of “close contact” for quarantine purposes. Previous guidance provided that close contact meant spending a solid 15-minute period of time within six feet from someone infected with COVID-19. On Wednesday, October 21, 2020 the CDC […]
Posted on October 9, 2020 by Mary Ellen Schill and Amy E. Ebeling
Today by Interim Rule the Treasury Department and Small Business Administration jointly made it much easier for some Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan borrowers to get forgiveness for their loans. If the PPP loan amount is $50,000 or less, the borrower can get full forgiveness to the extent that the loan proceeds were used for […]
Posted on October 8, 2020 by Nicole L. Stangl
The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development adopted an emergency rule to create DWD 120.02 which was approved by Governor Evers on September 23, 2020. As of November 2, 2020, Wisconsin employers will be required to notify workers of the availability of unemployment insurance upon separation of employment. The notification can be accomplished through one of […]
Posted on October 7, 2020 by Ruder Ware Alumni
With ever-increasing cases of COVID-19 affecting Wisconsin and U.S. workplaces, many employers have been left confused as to whether, when, and how they are supposed to report those cases to OSHA. OSHA itself has issued differing guidance since the pandemic began. It has now, however, come out with some new clarification on those questions. As […]